Ashlee gets the big chance he’s craved

Ashlee Eales…time to find out if he is the “Real Deal”

IN interview, few fighters are more entertaining than big punching Ashlee Eales. The stream of glorious soundbites deserve a bigger stage.

Eales, a former dancer turned fighter, provides golden copy for reporters. He is the gift that keeps giving.

That big stage may beckon next year if the Nuneaton southpaw does what he’s told the fight fraternity he’s capable of and passes his first real test.

On March 2 at Leicester Arena, Ashlee faces the home city’s Stanley Stannard for the vacant Midlands light-middleweight title.

It looks a 50-50 encounter. Stannard has lost only one of 10 and has travelled the championship distance.

In a career blighted by hand injuries, Eales has won nine on the spin but has yet to go beyond six rounds.

Eales, whose self-belief is near boundless, can only see one outcome. He certainly doesn’t see a nip-and-tuck affair.

“From what I’ve watched and heard, he’s a solid competitor with a good chin,” the 29-year-old told me. “That’s nowhere near good enough to be competitive against me. I wouldn’t be surprised if I blow him out of the water in four rounds.

“I respect him as a fighter, but I can make this look easy.”

In ring action, Eales has the grace and agility from his dancing days coupled with “lights out” power. He last fought in October, outpointing Vasif Mamedov in a low key affair. Frankly, it wasn’t fan-friendly.

Ashlee admits he’s found it tough to get up for bouts against journeymen. He was getting bored.

“I need to have a reason to be in that gym,” he said. “I wanted something exciting. An eight week training camp to face someone who fights every week was a struggle. I’ve done 40 per cent in most of my camps.

“One week in and I already feel fitter than I did for my last fight. I have bad intentions, something has changed in my head. I just feel I come from harder times (than Stannard).

“Fighting in Leicester doesn’t bother me, I hope he has 1,000 there.”

Ashlee added: “I respect him as a fighter, but, unless he’s some world-beater, he’s going to get beaten. This is the beginning of big things.”